lead shots for carbs

[johnyrude200]

So I ran into, yet another, 6hp carb where someone decided to plug the high speed air jet (which is not supposed to be done), causing the motor to flood/run too rich at anything much above idle.

In the process of pulling the thing apart to make sure there were no other occlusions, I have been trying to think of more cost-effective alternatives than paying $6-9 for a tiny lead shot.

Has anyone tried just using a fishing line sinker? They’re lead, and they’re small, and I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t work if installed carefully using an oversized punch lined up the right way. And to buy a pack of 50 for $2 seems to make a lot more sense to get the same job done.

Any other tricks or recommendations?

[frankr]

I confess. I did it. Better yet, melt off a drop of solder and save the sinker for the fish.

[johnyrude200]

well, maybe in another 20 years I’ll catch up to the rest of you vets 😎

Thanks for confirming I’m not crazy.

[chris-p]

I have used solder as well.

Figured that out when I had to solder a water line up high in my ceiling joists, and I had all the little balls flying down at me due to my poor plumbing skills. Picked a little solder ball out of my neck, and thought hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Casey Lynn]

Pull the shot from shotgun shells.

[wiscoboater]

Try melting some solder about a foot over a bucket of water. Makes perfect little balls when it falls in. Sort of like the old Remington shot towers that made lead shot for shotgun shells, but on a smaller scale 😉

[Mumbles]

Epoxy works wonders.

[crosbyman]

you can buy lead shot by the bag at reloading shops… buy the size you want

that should fix you up for a couple of generations 😆

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

[hotrod]

Solder may not be good. Nowdays it doesn’t contain lead. Lead is soft, which is a desired characteristic for sealing in alumnium carbs. Some solder contains acid for flux purposes. Might cause corrosion in the carb.

[reivertom]

Not all shotgun buckshot or birdshot is pure lead. Some of it is a hardened alloy to retain its shape better when shot. If you use shot, make sure the bag says soft or pure lead. Find you a shotshell reloader and get a handful. It will last you the rest of your life.

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